Lighted pole fan

ABSTRACT

A lighted pole assembly comprising a weighted base, a base pole attached to the base, a mid pole telescopically attached to the base pole and a spring in the base pole section compressed by the mid-pole section to form a spring loaded connection. An electrical cord provided through the center of the base pole, connection and mid-pole, a fan assembly connected to a top end of the mid-pole, an umbrella provided on an upper portion of the fan assembly.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant hereby claims priority under 35 USC 119 c to provisional application 61/214,336 filed Apr. 22, 2009.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known to provide a variety of appliances appropriate for outdoor use. Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,188 shows an outdoor combination pole fan, table shade canopy with lights. While this outdoor appliance is useful there is a need for additional outdoor appliances that will satisfy a variety of individual tastes and needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an outdoor pole fan that includes a shade canopy. A lighted pole assembly comprising;

a weighted base, a base pole attached to the base, a mid pole telescopically attached to the base pole and a spring in the base pole section compressed by the mid-pole section to form a spring loaded connection. An electrical cord provided through the center of the base pole, connection and mid-pole. A fan assembly connected to a top end of the mid-pole, an umbrella provided on an upper portion of the fan assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows details of a portion of the invention, and

FIG. 3 shows details of a portion of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a view of the appliance 100 which includes an umbrella assembly 101 which includes an umbrella 102 for shade. The umbrella 102 is shown partially cut away for clarity. The umbrella 102 is supported on an upper central pole 104. The umbrella 102 can be of a type that folds up and includes a folding frame 106 supported on a central ring 110 mounted concentric on the upper central pole 104. The upper central pole 104 also includes an assembly tool and tool mounting 114.

The umbrella assembly 101 is mounted on a fan assembly 120. The fan assembly 120 includes a motor assembly 122 mounted concentric with the upper central pole 104 and the upper central pole 104 is fastened to the motor assembly 122. The fan motor assembly 122 includes a rotational central hub 124 to which a plurality of fan blades 126 are mounted. The fan assembly can include non-rotating lights 130.

There is a base assembly 140 supporting the umbrella assembly 101 and the fan assembly 120. The base assembly 140 includes a weighted base 142 that might be cast metal or might be filled. The weighted base 142 supports a base pole section 144 and a mid-pole section 146. The pole sections 144 and 146 telescope together and can include a lock such as a set screw 150 to lock the pole sections 144, 146 together. An electrical cord 152 can provide power to the fan assembly 120 and the electrical cord 152 is routed through the center of the pole sections 144, 146 and the base sectional pole 144 includes a notch 154 that allows the cord 152 to come outside the pole section 144. Alternatively the base pole 144 could slip into a short pole section (not shown) on the base 142

FIG. 2 shows a partial exploded view of the fan assembly 120. The fan motor assembly 122 includes a concentrically mounted upper non-rotational shaft 160 that the upper pole 104 mounts over. The upper pole 104 includes a tool support 114 that holds an assembly tool 180 such as an Allen wrench that can be used to assemble and dis-assemble the appliance 100 by locking and unlocking fasteners 150. The non-rotational shaft 160 supports the umbrella assembly 101. The motor assembly 120 includes a non-rotational stub shaft 164 that supports the fan assembly on the mid pole section 146. There is an electrical connection 170, 172 that electrically connects the fan assembly 120 to the cord 152 at the upper end 176 of the mid-pole section 146. The connection 170/172 can be made in the field after the appliance 100 is shipped, and once the electrical connection 170/172 is made it can be hidden in the pole 146. FIG. 2 shows that the fan blade 126 can be attached to the motor 122 by a hinge 182 such that the blade can be pivoted down as shown by arrow B when the appliance is to be disassembled and shipped or stored. Alternatives the blade 126 can be removed by fasteners such as screws.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the poles 144 and 146. The electrical cord 152 goes down the center of the poles 144, 146. The base pole section 144 includes a spring 200 that compresses when the mid pole section 146 is telescoped into the base pole 144. The spring 200 holds the electrical cord 152 and nylon sleeve 202 centered in the base pole 146 during assembly. The upper end of the cord 152 includes a clip 172 that plugs into the fan assembly 120.

The appliance 100 can be shipped partially unassembled. The tool 180 can be used to attach fasteners 150 that might be Allen set screws for example. In assembly, blades 126 can be attached to the motor assembly 122 and electrical clips 170, 172 can be fastened together. Pole section upper end 176 is fitted over the stub shaft 164 and fastened in place using one of the fasteners 150. The mid-pole section 146 is telescopically fitted inside the upper end of base pole 144 and can be height adjusted by releasing the fastener 150, this will allow the user to decide how tall they want the fan appliance 100 to be. As the pole sections 144, 146 slide together the spring 200 is compressed. The spring 200 provides several benefits including keeping the cord 152 and sleeve centered so that the cord 152 is not pinched during assembly. The spring 200 also tends to force the cord 152 plug end 204 out of the slot 154 and the spring 200 creates a rigidity that makes the pole assembly 144, 146 stronger and less prone to vibrate and wobble. This is important as the rotation of the fan assembly 120 will tend to mechanically work on the connection 210 between the two poles 144, 146. Without the spring 200 the weight of the motor assembly 122 could begin to rock. Arrow ‘A’ shows the tendency of the pole section 146 to vibrate back and forth within the connection 210, the spring 200 tends to eliminate this unwanted motion. The spring 200 also provides the benefit of partially supporting the weight of the umbrella 102 and fan assemblies during assembly and disassembly. For example, if a person loosens the fastener 150 between the mid shaft 146 and base pole 144 the spring 200 will tend to hold part of the weight of the fan and umbrella making it easier to lower and raise those assemblies. Once the pole sections 144 and 146 are telescoped together the fastener 150 is tightened to hold the connection together.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A fan mounted pole assembly comprising; a weighted base, a base pole attached to the base, a mid pole telescopically attached to the base pole and a spring in the base pole section compressed by the mid-pole section to form a spring loaded connection between the mid pole section and the base pole section, an electrical cord provided through the center of the base pole, connection and mid-pole, a fan assembly connected to a top end of the mid-pole by a first fastener, and an umbrella provided on an upper portion of the fan assembly.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical cord is located in the center of the spring and wherein a sleeve is provided around said cord and wherein said fan assembly includes lights.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said umbrella includes a top pole section co-axial with said mid pole section and said base pole and wherein said top pole includes a tool holder used to connect the fastener during assembly of the lighted pole assembly.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a second fastener locks said base pole to said mid pole and when said second fastener is unlocked a portion of a weight of said fan assembly and umbrella is supported by said spring.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said fan assembly includes a fan blade hinged to an electrical motor.
 6. A fan assembly comprising; a weighted base, a base pole attached to the base, a mid pole telescopically attached to the base pole and a spring in the base pole section compressed by the mid-pole section to form a spring loaded connection between the mid pole section and the base pole section, an electrical cord provided through the base pole, connection and mid-pole, a fan assembly connected to a top end of the mid-pole by a first fastener, and an umbrella provided on an upper portion of the fan assembly.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein a second fastener locks said base pole to said mid pole and when said second fastener is unlocked a portion of a weight of said fan assembly and umbrella is supported by said spring.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said electrical cord is located in the spring and wherein a sleeve is provided around said cord and wherein said fan assembly includes lights.
 9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said umbrella includes a top pole section co-axial with said mid pole section and said base pole and wherein said top pole includes a tool used to connect the fastener during assembly of the fan assembly.
 10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said fan assembly includes a fan blade hinged to an electrical motor.
 11. A fan assembly comprising; a base, a base pole attached to the base, a mid pole telescopically attached to the base pole and a spring in the base pole section compressed by the mid-pole section to form a connection between the mid pole section and the base pole section, an electrical cord provided through the base pole, connection and mid-pole, a fan assembly connected to an end of the mid-pole by a first fastener, and an umbrella provided on an upper portion of the fan assembly.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein a second fastener locks said base pole to said mid pole and when said second fastener is unlocked the fan assembly and umbrella is partially supported by said spring.
 13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said electrical cord is located in a sleeve provided in said spring and wherein said assembly includes at least one light.
 14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said umbrella includes a top pole section co-axial with said mid pole section and said base pole and wherein said top pole includes a tool used to connect the fastener during assembly of the fan assembly.
 15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said fan assembly includes a fan blade hinged to an electrical motor. 